I <3 Berlin
I'm back from my amazing Berlin trip with my APCP class.
the only word to describe it is: AMAZING
Let's see if I can give you some more info...
sunday 2nd May
We arived in Berlin quite late, so all we had time to was to find out hostel and then head out for some food
The hostel was rather nice. it was in former east berlin, so slightly doddgy erea, but neverthe less, a pretty ok place.
we found agood resturant at Alexander Platz. where we also discovered the best thing in the world!
Berliner Weisse!
omg..I don't like beer...but this...omg! this is to die for!
just look at the colour!
this beer is a local beer mixed with syrup. there are two types- this green one. and a red(raspberry) one. both are deliecious :D
very sweet, yet so tasty! ^^
Germany -the only place to make me like beer...well done germans...well done
*it's aparantly the french who invented it..but shhh...that's beside the point- as far as I know..you only get it in Germany*
after our meal we ended up walking around Alexander Platz with two of our teachers - looking for bars. they eventually found one, but myself and Cat (a classmate) decided to head back to the hostel and get some sleep
Monday 3rd
woke up early - as breakfast is at 8:30
Hostel provided breakfast - it was rather good *om nom nom -salami*
at 10 we set out for the Olafur Eliasson at Martin-Gropius-Bau
the exibithion was stunning! there was a room filled with smoke that was coloured by light. so pretty. walking two steps from someone and then you could hardly see them! it was amazing! like swimming underwater.
there whas also a mirror room. I wish I had pictures of it all (might steal some from my classmates...so give me a week or so and you can see it ^^ )
there was also a waterhose in a room with strobelights. so mesmerizing and pretty. hurt your eyes after a while, but it was magical.
we walked towards to Berlin wall
(meet my art teacher - Phil on the left and my philosophy teacher - Dom on the right. I swear to God that they are some of the BEST teachers I've ever had :D - me in the middle looking like a typical norwegian tourist-shut up people...backpacks are epic)
we also discovered Germans are evil...and enjoy making small people suffer
I'm sorry....but us short people DO NOT APROOVE! stupid german cash machine...
Cat joined me afterwards at Chech Point Charlie.
we read some of the escape stories and looked at some of the art there as well *I bought a pocket watch...*
I have a thing for watches...pocket watches epecially...who cares if it's a communist pocket watch...it makes an EPIC ticking noise, and um yeah...it's a pocket watch...XD
(the Russian on the back spell out something like "For the Fatherland")
we discovered Germans are pervert...or their buildings are...
(why yes...that is a naked man with a large penis...you may now go bleach your eyes)
(you can't see it in these pictures, but at the very top it turns into a snake...yes, we are immature and we did laugh at this for ages - we still don't know why someone would put this on a building...)
we then headed for the 'Deutsche Guggenheim. the art there was rather 'disturbing' - it was a lot of collage - and gory, but I'm glad I went ^^
we then headed back to the hostell, had a few beers in the hostel bar (om nom nom - green and red beer = <3 )
Tuesday 4th
early rise today as well
we headed to the Statliche Museum today.
they had a large collection of various artists (Andy Warhol, Walton Ford, Daniel River, Cy Twombly and Gunter Brus to name a few)
Walton Ford's Beastarium was facinating - and disturbing.
his massive watercolour paintings where incredibly detailed, but featured some pretty creepy stuff (Bull raping a leopard...O_o the things you can get away with in art...it baffles even me)
I played Godzilla in one of the rooms
(it had to be done)
after walking around this gallery for a few hours, Cat, Jaime and Dan (all classmates of mine) headed of withouth the rest to look at a few private galleries. we then went to the Brandenburgh Gate for a free walkabout tour.
(it is pretty,ja?)
the tour laster 4 hours, but it was well worth it. we got shown so much
the memorial for where the Nazi book burning took place - the memorial for that was a hole/room in the ground covered by glass. in the room there where empty book shelves - to signefy how those precious books could never be replaced. it was rather chilling (and as someone with huge respect for books - very sad)
*significancy of seeing your own reflection : we are the ones in charge of the precent and the future, we have to make sure this never happens again*
we also saw the old Nazi LuftWaffe head quarters. you could tell it was built by the Nazis, deprressing, stern and intimidating architecthure. the door handle was almost as far up on the door as my head was (I'm 160 cm btw...)
(I wish there where more pictures..but I guess you have to see it in real life to truly feel the intimidation it gives off)
we aslo saw sevral of the churches/chapels/domes
and the opera houses.
Berlin is such a strange city. most of what was there before the wars have been destroyed - yet they try to restore them, other places everythign is brand new. it creates a striking contrast.
after this great tour was finished we sat down at the steps of this building
(as we got closer we could see where they had patched up the bulletholes XD)
the day ended in another trip to the hostel bar for some more beer XD
Wednesday 5th
we started the day at a musum full of old religious paintings and paintings by old masters (Yay! Rembrandt! :D )
Cat and me went to the Hallacaust museum. it's incredibly moving.
the monument outside it is simply breath taking.
sevral large grey sement blocks placked in a grid. it's like walking between large grave stones
it's a very effective monument - and I personally (as an artist) find this one of the best instalations in Berlin.
SHOPPING SPREE!!!! :D
(why yes, I bought stupid tourist t-shirt...the black one: I have been to all those places :D ) * totally bought the one on the right just 'cause it reminded me of Prussia from APH XD *shot* *
I also found my chistmas childhood:
Jon Blund AKA The Sandman :D
gotta love this guy...XD
we found a chocolateer shop. and OMFG!
MASSIVE chocolate statues...SOLID chocolate! just look at the SIZE!
(chocolate brandenburgh gate---and me looking like an idiot)
(the Titanic in chocolate - solid chocolate...not hollow...)
(the Reichstag in chocolate - it was incredibly detailed! and smelled like heaven)
have I mentioned I love chocolate and will marry anyone who can get me one of these chocoalte buildings?
After this we met up with the rest of my class and the second years for some drinks in a 'Beer garden'
it was outside this old abandoned ballroom. my pictures does not do it justice - so I'll have to wait till some one sends me theirs.
but trust me-it was amazing. the ball room had been badly damage during the war, and noone has restored it, yet they use it as it is. broken mirrors and cracked ceeling - it just adds to the atmosphere. incredible ^^
I forget for how long we where sitting there...untill 8-ish I beleive... (I dunno how, but somehow one of my teachers managed to pay for two of my beers...woman must be loaded, she insisted on buying us all drinks XD gotta love her)
afterwards we headed back to the hostel again. went past some small place for some food to go.
I was planning on going out that night-but I was so tired I just fell asleep. my little 'nap' lasted from 10-ish till midnight. when I woke up I decided to just go to bed XD
*night life in Berlin is aparantly really good,but I was far to sleepy to even venture beyond the hostel bar XD*
Thursday 6th
this was our last day, and thus nothing was planned. 'slept inn' till around 10. stayed in bed till 11, when suddenly some of the second years came up and told us we had to check out at 11. frantic packing ensured
after having checked out, Cat and I joined some second years just walking around a small cute part of town. had some nice tea in a bar/resturant.
2:30 the bus picked us up and left for the airport.
had to wait bit, as the plane got delayed...in the meantime I went shopping for stuff int eh "Tax Free"
Found bottled Berliner Weisse
I can't wait to drink these! (but on the other hand I want to save them for ever and ever...xD)
I wish I could get this in scotland or norway XD
well...
to sum it all up....
I had the time of my life
and I will be going back (soon hopefully :D )
recomended at it's highest :D
the only word to describe it is: AMAZING
Let's see if I can give you some more info...
sunday 2nd May
We arived in Berlin quite late, so all we had time to was to find out hostel and then head out for some food
The hostel was rather nice. it was in former east berlin, so slightly doddgy erea, but neverthe less, a pretty ok place.
we found agood resturant at Alexander Platz. where we also discovered the best thing in the world!
Berliner Weisse!
omg..I don't like beer...but this...omg! this is to die for!
just look at the colour!
this beer is a local beer mixed with syrup. there are two types- this green one. and a red(raspberry) one. both are deliecious :D
very sweet, yet so tasty! ^^
Germany -the only place to make me like beer...well done germans...well done
*it's aparantly the french who invented it..but shhh...that's beside the point- as far as I know..you only get it in Germany*
after our meal we ended up walking around Alexander Platz with two of our teachers - looking for bars. they eventually found one, but myself and Cat (a classmate) decided to head back to the hostel and get some sleep
Monday 3rd
woke up early - as breakfast is at 8:30
Hostel provided breakfast - it was rather good *om nom nom -salami*
at 10 we set out for the Olafur Eliasson at Martin-Gropius-Bau
the exibithion was stunning! there was a room filled with smoke that was coloured by light. so pretty. walking two steps from someone and then you could hardly see them! it was amazing! like swimming underwater.
there whas also a mirror room. I wish I had pictures of it all (might steal some from my classmates...so give me a week or so and you can see it ^^ )
there was also a waterhose in a room with strobelights. so mesmerizing and pretty. hurt your eyes after a while, but it was magical.
we walked towards to Berlin wall
(meet my art teacher - Phil on the left and my philosophy teacher - Dom on the right. I swear to God that they are some of the BEST teachers I've ever had :D - me in the middle looking like a typical norwegian tourist-shut up people...backpacks are epic)
we also discovered Germans are evil...and enjoy making small people suffer
I'm sorry....but us short people DO NOT APROOVE! stupid german cash machine...
Cat joined me afterwards at Chech Point Charlie.
we read some of the escape stories and looked at some of the art there as well *I bought a pocket watch...*
I have a thing for watches...pocket watches epecially...who cares if it's a communist pocket watch...it makes an EPIC ticking noise, and um yeah...it's a pocket watch...XD
(the Russian on the back spell out something like "For the Fatherland")
we discovered Germans are pervert...or their buildings are...
(why yes...that is a naked man with a large penis...you may now go bleach your eyes)
(you can't see it in these pictures, but at the very top it turns into a snake...yes, we are immature and we did laugh at this for ages - we still don't know why someone would put this on a building...)
we then headed for the 'Deutsche Guggenheim. the art there was rather 'disturbing' - it was a lot of collage - and gory, but I'm glad I went ^^
we then headed back to the hostell, had a few beers in the hostel bar (om nom nom - green and red beer = <3 )
Tuesday 4th
early rise today as well
we headed to the Statliche Museum today.
they had a large collection of various artists (Andy Warhol, Walton Ford, Daniel River, Cy Twombly and Gunter Brus to name a few)
Walton Ford's Beastarium was facinating - and disturbing.
his massive watercolour paintings where incredibly detailed, but featured some pretty creepy stuff (Bull raping a leopard...O_o the things you can get away with in art...it baffles even me)
I played Godzilla in one of the rooms
(it had to be done)
after walking around this gallery for a few hours, Cat, Jaime and Dan (all classmates of mine) headed of withouth the rest to look at a few private galleries. we then went to the Brandenburgh Gate for a free walkabout tour.
(it is pretty,ja?)
the tour laster 4 hours, but it was well worth it. we got shown so much
the memorial for where the Nazi book burning took place - the memorial for that was a hole/room in the ground covered by glass. in the room there where empty book shelves - to signefy how those precious books could never be replaced. it was rather chilling (and as someone with huge respect for books - very sad)
*significancy of seeing your own reflection : we are the ones in charge of the precent and the future, we have to make sure this never happens again*
we also saw the old Nazi LuftWaffe head quarters. you could tell it was built by the Nazis, deprressing, stern and intimidating architecthure. the door handle was almost as far up on the door as my head was (I'm 160 cm btw...)
(I wish there where more pictures..but I guess you have to see it in real life to truly feel the intimidation it gives off)
we aslo saw sevral of the churches/chapels/domes
and the opera houses.
Berlin is such a strange city. most of what was there before the wars have been destroyed - yet they try to restore them, other places everythign is brand new. it creates a striking contrast.
after this great tour was finished we sat down at the steps of this building
(as we got closer we could see where they had patched up the bulletholes XD)
the day ended in another trip to the hostel bar for some more beer XD
Wednesday 5th
we started the day at a musum full of old religious paintings and paintings by old masters (Yay! Rembrandt! :D )
Cat and me went to the Hallacaust museum. it's incredibly moving.
the monument outside it is simply breath taking.
sevral large grey sement blocks placked in a grid. it's like walking between large grave stones
it's a very effective monument - and I personally (as an artist) find this one of the best instalations in Berlin.
SHOPPING SPREE!!!! :D
(why yes, I bought stupid tourist t-shirt...the black one: I have been to all those places :D ) * totally bought the one on the right just 'cause it reminded me of Prussia from APH XD *shot* *
I also found my chistmas childhood:
Jon Blund AKA The Sandman :D
gotta love this guy...XD
we found a chocolateer shop. and OMFG!
MASSIVE chocolate statues...SOLID chocolate! just look at the SIZE!
(chocolate brandenburgh gate---and me looking like an idiot)
(the Titanic in chocolate - solid chocolate...not hollow...)
(the Reichstag in chocolate - it was incredibly detailed! and smelled like heaven)
have I mentioned I love chocolate and will marry anyone who can get me one of these chocoalte buildings?
After this we met up with the rest of my class and the second years for some drinks in a 'Beer garden'
it was outside this old abandoned ballroom. my pictures does not do it justice - so I'll have to wait till some one sends me theirs.
but trust me-it was amazing. the ball room had been badly damage during the war, and noone has restored it, yet they use it as it is. broken mirrors and cracked ceeling - it just adds to the atmosphere. incredible ^^
I forget for how long we where sitting there...untill 8-ish I beleive... (I dunno how, but somehow one of my teachers managed to pay for two of my beers...woman must be loaded, she insisted on buying us all drinks XD gotta love her)
afterwards we headed back to the hostel again. went past some small place for some food to go.
I was planning on going out that night-but I was so tired I just fell asleep. my little 'nap' lasted from 10-ish till midnight. when I woke up I decided to just go to bed XD
*night life in Berlin is aparantly really good,but I was far to sleepy to even venture beyond the hostel bar XD*
Thursday 6th
this was our last day, and thus nothing was planned. 'slept inn' till around 10. stayed in bed till 11, when suddenly some of the second years came up and told us we had to check out at 11. frantic packing ensured
after having checked out, Cat and I joined some second years just walking around a small cute part of town. had some nice tea in a bar/resturant.
2:30 the bus picked us up and left for the airport.
had to wait bit, as the plane got delayed...in the meantime I went shopping for stuff int eh "Tax Free"
Found bottled Berliner Weisse
I can't wait to drink these! (but on the other hand I want to save them for ever and ever...xD)
I wish I could get this in scotland or norway XD
well...
to sum it all up....
I had the time of my life
and I will be going back (soon hopefully :D )
recomended at it's highest :D